William Chafee Whilden

1939 - 2026

William Chafee Whilden, born in 1939, in Augusta, Georgia, passed away peacefully on February 15, 2026, in Trussville, Alabama. He was 86 years old.

William was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather whose life spanned decades of love and dedication to his family. He was a 1957 graduate of Boys' Catholic High. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia, and he received his MBA from Samford University in Birmingham, AL. Working as a pharmacist, he retired from Eli Lilly after thirty years.

Growing up in Augusta, Willie was an altar boy at St. Patrick's Church. He was known for his wild and crazy antics as one of the Downtown Boys (Willie, Ralph Roper, L.D. Evans, Bryan Walker, Freddy Youngblood, and Howard Daniels), a source of constant consternation for Brother John Arthur, principal of BCHS, among others! After an accidental discharge of a shotgun in the vehicle by one of the boys, the only casualty was the window of Ralph Roper's father's Henry J.! Able to repair it with a replacement window from a junkyard, the boys were able to keep that a secret for many years. One night when going out on the town, the boys were chipping in for gas and Willie asked his father for money, his father responded loud enough for the boys to hear, "What did you do with the dollar I gave you last week?"

He is survived by his wife, Diane Whilden; their children: William C. (Suzanne) Whilden II, Patrick (Marian) Whilden, Sean (Ellen) Whilden, and Laura (Donald) Jennings; as well as 11 grandchildren William C. (Michaela) Whilden III, Brooks Whilden, Sydney Whilden, Patrick Whilden, Julia Whilden, Tyler Whilden, Sean Whilden, Colleen Whilden, Jeremiah (Savannah) Jennings, Benjamin Jennings, and Isaac Jennings. His legacy continues through his great-grandchildren: Avery Whilden, Wyatt Whilden, Jack Jennings, and Tate Jennings.

William was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters.

The family will receive friends at 1:00 PM and the funeral service will follow at 2:00PM at The Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 720 Telfair Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901 with Fr. Jacob Almeter celebrant. Burial will follow at Westover.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com